Sports writer with The Age

Provided the redevelopment of the Junction Oval goes ahead, and the Saints eventually march into their new digs, there will be one group of supporters particularly happy.

Craig Reardon has worked feverishly to gather a group of St Kilda members and supporters agitating for change under the slogan, ‘‘Bring `em home’’.

He believes the club would benefit enormously from at least, initially, having its stand-alone VFL team, set to take the field in 2016, based at St Kilda's original home ground.

‘‘To me, the notion of the debt-ridden club investing in Moorabbin is madness when the city whose name it bears houses what will be an excellent boutique stadium more than capable of staging VFL games,’’ Reardon said.

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‘‘Conversely, any investment St Kilda can make in the Junction Oval will assist Cricket Victoria’s plans for improvements to the oval.

‘‘St Kilda is already well documented as having made some financially compromising strategic decisions in recent years - the move to Seaford among them.

‘‘As far as tourism is concerned, staging games at Junction Oval provides a welcome fillip to local hospitality businesses in otherwise quiet winter. Pending the fortunes of the respective competing clubs, VFL games can attract up to 5000 people, many of whom would relish the opportunity to enjoy both local bar and restaurant facilities, before and after the game.’’

St Kilda played home games at the Junction Oval until 1964, before shifting to Moorabbin, in part, so it could have a greater say in the running of the stadium.

Reardon said he had relayed his thoughts to the club. He said his push had been supported by the Fitzroy St Traders Association and he had briefed the City of Port Phillip’s tourism department.

The Saints held a training session at the Junction Oval last month, which was well received by supporters and players.

It is widely known in football circles that many of the more established St Kilda players, who began their careers when Moorabbin was their training base, have not enjoyed the extra travel required to get to Seaford.

Skipper Nick Riewoldt said earlier this year the Seaford base remained ‘‘geographically’’ challenging.

As part of their bid to strengthen ties with the bayside suburbs, the Saints will continue to hold training sessions at Moorabbin this season, with the venue to eventually be redeveloped into a football, community and retail hub as part of the club’s long-term strategic plan.